Loading deck for automobiles



July 1, 1930;

y R. Iw. QUINNAN LOADING DECK FOR `Au'rouoirLS FildrApiril 1o, 1928 z sheets-sheet v1 MMM Patented July l, 193@ UNED STATES PATENT orsi RICHARD W. QUINNAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF YMICHIGAN LOADING, DECK FOR AUTOMOBILES Application filed April 10,

This invention relates to loading decks for supporting `automobiles in raised position for transportation. Ity has been common practice to support automobiles onevabove the other during transportation in freight cars by relatively inclined supporting members extending upwardly from vthe floor of the freight car and .inclined inwardly from the side walls of the car to engage and support the ends of one or more of the automobile axles. The arrangement of these supports heret-ofore has been such as to interfere with the brake drum surrounding the automobile axle and has tended to damage the drum. 1 It has been difficult also for the shipper to gain access between the supporting members for securing minor partsupon the lioor of the freight car.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these difficulties and provide a loading deck including relatively inclined supporting members, the upper end portions of which are constructed and, arranged and secured togetherin such a manner as to fit within the annular liangefon the brake drum and thereby minimize thedanger of injury to the drum.

It is a further object ofthe invention to providea-loading deck of this general type which is of simple `construction and can be quickly manufactured and conveniently assembled invplace to support the automobile and which is so constructed and arranged which is of simple construction and can be tween its supporting-members.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which, p Y Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior of a freight car showing an auto- Vmobile supported therein upon a loading deck embodying the invention;

.Fig 2 is a fragmentary side elevational 1928. Serial No. 268,820.

Fig. 4 is a'perspective'view of the construction shown in Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of certain parts of the loading deck.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, and the method or mode of opera# tion embodied therein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and ar rangement of parts'illustrated inthe accom panying drawings, since the vinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or c-arried out in various ways. Also it is toy be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended or the requirements ofthe prior art.

In the drawings a portion of the interior of a, freight car is illustrated comprising a floor V and adjoining side walls 11. An automobile '14 is supportedv therein with its rear wheels upon the Hoor 10 and the 'front axle supported in raised position Vby a loading deck'embodyingy the invention. Blocks 16 are placed against the rear wheels of the automobile and secured to the floor 10 of the freight car. The rear wheels 15 areV held in position against the blocks 16 by straps 17 extending around the rear axle of the automobile and secured to the floor 10.

A loading deck embodying the invention may comprise relatively inclined supporting members 20 and 21 resting at one end upon the floor 10 near one of the side walls 11 and suitably secured thereto, as by brackets22.

The members 2O and 21 extend upwardly from the floor and are inclined inwardly from the side walls ll and are arranged at their upper ends, preferably in overlapped relation, and secured together, as by nails 23,V

one or both of the supporting members may be provided with a reinforcing strap 26 at the upper end thereof.

The upper ends of the members 20 and 2l may be further reinforced by a block secured upon one member and abutting the other. As illustrated, a block 28 is secured upon the supporting member 20, as-by nails 27, to engage the edge of the member 21, and a block SO is secured, as by nails 29, upon the supporting member 21 to engage the member 20. A brace 3l may, if desired, extend between and be secured, as by nails 32, to the members 2O and 21, near their upper ends. The upper end portions of the members 2O 2l may be provided with an opening 35, such as a hole, to receive the end of an automobile axle, the opening being arranged in said members parallel to the licor 10 when said members are in normal assembled position, as shown in Fig. 1. lt will be notedv that by virtue of the. alined openings 35 the wheel axle or spindle interlocks or inter-connects theupper` ends of the beams 2O and 21. The members 2O and 2l upon the brake drum 25. A strut 38 extends between the upper endsof the members20 and 241 and the adjacent side wall of the freight car and is secured thereto soa-sto hold the loading `deck and automobile against lateral movement.

Suitable means are provided for reinforcing the loading deck to prevent spreading of the members 20 and 21. In accordance. with theinvention Ya brace 40 is secured to the members 2O aiid21 and is arranged to permit access conveniently between said mem bers. W ith this in view the brace l0 is supported at one end upon the floor lOof the freight car and against-one of the supporting members and is extended upwardly and secured to the other'member..

It will be noted that the loading deck of the invention is constructed and arranged so that the upper end portion is n ot materially wider than one of the supporting members and may fit within the annular flange upon the brake drum of an automo` inclination of the brace 40 from the floor upward permits ready access between the supports 20 and 2l inasmuch as it is secured to one of the supporting members at a point thereon which is relatively close to the side wall of the car thereby leaving the space between themembers which is more `remote from the side wall unobstructed.

What I claim is:

l. In a loading deck for supporting automobiles in freight cars, in combination, a pair of relatively inclined supporting mem bers extending upwardlyV from the floor of the car and inclined inwardly from the side thereof and positioned inV overlapping rela-S tion at theirl upper end.portions,.and means for securing said end portions together in cluding a block on each of said members abutting the other member. Y

2. ln a loading deck for supporting automobiles inv freight cars, in combination, a pair or' relatively inclined supportingineinbers extending upwardly from the. floor ofV the car and inclinedrinwardly from the side thereof and'positioned in overlapping rela- Vtion at the-ir'upper end portions, means for mobilesin freight cars, in,` combination, a pair of relatively inclined' supporting mem'-v bers extending upwardly from the' iloor ofY the car and inclined Yinwardly from` the side Vthereof and positionedin overlapping rela; tion at their upper end portions. means for securing said end portions together, and an upwardly inclined brace member supported at one end upon the floor of the car and secured at its other end to one of said supporting members.

il. In a loadingdeclr for supporting automobiles' in freight cars, in combination, a

pair of relatively inclinedfsupporting mem? ers extending upwardly from therloor of the car andfinclined inwardly from the side thereof and positioned inV overlapping relation at their upper end portions, means forV securing'said end portions together, andan upwardly inclined'brace member supported one end by the floor of the car and extending between and secured at itsl ends to nach. of said supporting members. Y 5. ln a loadingdeclr for supporting auto'- mobiles in freight cars,.the combination with a pairof relatively inclined supporting members in engagement at their upper ends of an upwardly inclined brace member supported at one end upon the floor of the car and extending between and secured at itsendsr to each of said supporting members. i

6. ln a loading deck for supporting auto'-v mobilesV in freight cars, the combination of a pair of relatively inclined supporting membersextending upwardly` from the Vfloor of sho im.)

the car and inclined inwardly from the side thereof and secured together at their upper end portions, said upper end portions being constructed and arranged to iit Within a brake drum of an automobile. s

7. In a loading deck for supporting automobiles in freight cars, the combination of a pair of relatively inclined supporting members extending upwardly from the iioor of the car and inclined inwardly from the side thereof and secured together at their upper end portions, said upper end portions being constructed and arranged to lit within a brake drum of an automobile, and a brace member inclined upwardly and extending between said supporting members.

8. In a loading deck for supporting auto- V mobiles in freight cars, the combination of a pair of relatively inclined supporting members extending upwardlyfrom the floor of the car and inclined inwardly from the side thereof and secured together at their upper end portions, said upper end portions being constructed and arranged to fit within a brake drum of an automobile, and an upthan one of said struts to permit it to project into the brake drum, and means for secur- RICHARD W. QUINNAN.

wardly inclined brace member supported at one end upon the floor of the car and secured at its other end to one of said supporting members.

9. In a loading deck for supporting automobiles in freight cars, the combination of a pair of relatively inclined supporting-members extending upwardly from the iioor of I the car and inclined inwardly from the side Y thereof and secured together at their upper end portions, said upper end portions being constructed and arranged to t within a brake drum of an automobile, and an upwardly inclined brace member supported at one end upon the oor of the car and extending between and secured at its ends to each of said supporting members.

10. In a loading deck for supporting an,r

automobile in a freight car, the combination automobile in a freight car, the combination of a pair of upwardly extending braces one at eachl side of the automobile, each Abrace comprising a pair of converging members having their upper ends provided with alined openings to receive the wheel axle and to be inter-locked thereby.

lf2. In a loading deck forsupporting an automobile in a freight car, the combination of a pair of upwardly extending braces one at each side of the automobile, each brace comprising a pair of struts abutting at their upper ends whereby the upper end of the brace has substantially no greater width of a pair of upwardly extending braces one -SISO g 

